Posted prematurely...

There used to be a winery in Kaikoura, but it was closed and up for sale when we drove by last month.

There are lots of seals near the walkway and north of Kaikoura about 26 km at Ohau Point and Ohau Stream (seal pups).

Geez, did it again.

I'm looking at a brochure I picked up in Kaikoura last month -other attractions include Limestone Cave Tours, a lavender farm, llama trekking and farm park, fishing charters, dolphin and albatross encounters, Fyffe House, four wheel drive adventures, kayaking, Maori tours, seal swim, and a marine aquarium.

That's helpful, thanks! Would you want to spend 2-3 nights there? Or is the time better spent in Marlborough area? Or is that another impossible question? :)

We spent two nights, which gave us one full day to explore.

It's the first time in a dozen trips to the SI that I spent any appreciable time in Kaikoura. I'm still not a huge fan of the place, but I am a huge fan of wine, so for me it'd be a no brainer - Marlborough.

Got it, thanks! Do you have any thoughts on the best site to figure out driving times in the SI? I'm using the AA tourism site but am not sure if it's accurate. Related--how long do you estimate it to take to get from Wanaka to Fox or FJ glacier? Thank you!

This is the site I use for all my NZ trips - I've found it to be pretty accurate, but we always add several hours for sightseeing/walks along the way:

http://www.newzealand.com/travel/get...ances-home.cfm

It shows Wanaka to Franz as just over four hours. Took us nine, including a walk to the Blue Pools, the 90 minute return walk to Monro Beach, lunch stop in Haast, stops at Thundering Creek Falls and Knights Point and a short detour at Fox.

Great, thanks! That is very helpful. Our itinerary is finally shaping up. I think my real decision is just about whether we'd rather have longer drive days (3-4 hours) so we can spend 2-3 nights in some places or have shorter drive days but shorter stays. There is so much to see!

nz - you have just summed up the dilemma that I've been grappling with for the last 6 months.

click on my screen name to find my thread showing how we have "solved" the conundrum.

[PS we have 4 nights on the NI and 13 on the SI so not that different to your trip].

Thanks, Annhig! It seems like you've got a great trip planned. It is so hard to figure this out, but I think I am almost there, and am also just resigning myself to lots of time in the car, but with hopefully wonderful views and some great stops along the way!

nz - I've resigned myself to that as well.

I think that NZ is a bit like Iceland - some great things to see, but you have to do quite a lot of driving to get from one to the other.

Ok, after much research, here is the itinerary that we *want* to do. We're still a little concerned about all the driving so if there are any huge red flags, please let me know!

Day 1 Fly into Christchurch
Day 2 Drive to Mt. Cook stopping at Lake Tekapo, hike Mt. John if possible
Day 3 Mt. Cook
Day 4 Te Anau (5+ hour drive, but I am okay with it)
Day 5 Te Anau, day trip to Milford Sound
Day 6 Wanaka
Day 7 Wanaka
Day 8 Wanaka
Day 9 Fox Glacier
Day 10 Fox Glacier- I am wondering if we should spend this night in Hokitika to get a bit further
Day 11 Westport
Day 12 Motueka/Mapua
Day 13 Motueka/Mapua
Day 14 Motueka Mapua
Day 15 Kaikoura
Day 16 Drive to CHC for 5pm flight

One possible revision--

Day 10 Fox glacier during the day, sleep in Hokitika
Day 11 Drive to Motueka straight from Hokitika

Is this possible and does it make sense? Seems like it's only 4 hours. I'm not that excited about seeing the west coast so if I could cut out a day of driving that would be great. Thanks!

this comes with the huge caveat that we haven't been there yet.

but certainly if you are sleeping in Hokitika, I can't see the point in stopping in Westport.

Have you thought about stopping off in Punakaiki, just south of Westport? not for an overnight but just to see the Pancake rocks - especially good at high tide, i gather.

Ah yes, what I was wondering was if instead of staying at Fox on Day 10, we drive to Hokitika for the night, so then we are a bit closer to Motueka the next day, and then we don't have to stop again. I don't think we can make it from Fox all the way to Motueka in one day so that's the issue. I would like to see Punakaiki too, and am hoping we can! Thanks!

Mt Cook to Te Anau is just over six hours - you'll want to get an early start and limit your stops

Day 5 - sleep in Te Anau, right?

Day 9 - drive from Wanaka to Fox, right? This will be a very full day, so it makes sense to stay the following night in Fox as well, otherwise you won't have time to see much of the glaciers. Two nights will give you one full day - you can see both Franz and Fox as well as Lake Matheson in one full day. Forging on to Hoki will be at the expense of the glaciers, which I don't recommend. You can visit Hoki on the way to Westport - why check in and out of one motel just to check in and out of another one 2:30 up the road?

Fox to Westport is doable, but Westport is a dull little town - not much on offer from a tourist standpoint, but fine for an overnight. It only saves you 45 minutes on your drive the following day if you stay there vs Punakaiki. Suggest you at least stop at Punakaiki to take the walk through Pancake Rocks, maybe explore a track or two, even if you don't stay there.

Motueka from Hokitika - a long day, 5.5 hour drive not including potential stops at places like Punakaiki, but doable if you get an early start.

If you're not interested in the West Coast, why not head inland at Greymouth and give Westport a miss?

Day 14 - don't forget the time it takes to get from Motueka to Kaikoura - about four hours - this won't leave you much time to explore Kaikoura, but maybe that's the idea?

Thank you so much, Mel! I don't how I would do it without you!

Day 5 We will sleep in Te Anau and then drive to Wanaka the next day to Wanaka at some point.

That's what I figured about sleeping in Fox Glacier-we will plan on 2 nights there and then off the next day to somewhere on the west coast.

Day 11- Would you suggest we stay in Greymouth, then, after Fox? I'd just like somewhere that we can split the drive from Fox to Motueka, but ideally somewhere with some views, hiking, etc nearby. Does going inland at Greymouth save time?


Day 14-yes, I know it won't give us much time in Kaikoura, but I think we'd rather have 3 nights in Motueka. I'd rather prioritize longer stays in a couple of places which I know means longer drives and a few short stays. If we have time for a whale tour, that's great but I'm okay if not.

Thank you!!!!!

<Would you suggest we stay in Greymouth, then, after Fox?>

Fox to Greymouth is only a three hour drive, so it makes more sense to continue driving if you're headed to Motueka. Your best options are basically Punakaiki or Westport as you've already worked out. What I meant about heading inland at Greymouth is that you take SH 7 towards Reefton, then you can rejoin SH 6 at Inanguhua Junction. I only mentioned this because you said you're not all that interested in the West Coast. This route would cut out Westport and Punakaiki altogether. Reefton is about the halfway mark between Fox and Motueka, so it's a potential place to stay as well. I've never spent a night in Reefton, but I would given the chance. Here's some info on the town:

http://www.reefton.co.nz/

Some walks near Reefton:

http://www.reefton.co.nz/what-to-do/...lks-and-tramps

Ok got it, thanks! I'll look into where to stay for night 11. Reefton does seem like a good option. For now, I will plan to keep the itinerary above with 2 nights at Fox and then 1 night TBD near the west coast/Reefton.

It is a lot of driving, but I like the idea of 3 nights in Wanaka and 3 nights near Abel Tasman. I think it will be nice to have a slight change of scenery for the last few days, and it doesn't seem like there is a way around all the driving.

Thanks for all your help! Now I need to figure out hotels and activities. :)

A few accommodation recommendations:

Mt Cook -
http://www.aspencourt.co.nz/aorakicourt/

Wanaka -
http://www.clearbrook.co.nz/ OR http://www.wanakaalpinelodge.co.nz/

Te Anau -
http://www.thecroft.co.nz/ OR http://www.ambercourtteanau.co.nz/ OR
http://www.birchwoodcottages.co.nz/